Photographic-print-treating apparatus



Feb. 18, 1930.

J. S. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 3 ATTORNEYS J. S. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Feb. 18, 1930.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1927 INVEN OR (/BEIZ 5. 6 7196716 *%;'5ATT0RNEYS Feb. 18, 1930. J. E. GREENE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 70k]; 5. Era ng SATTORN EYS Feb. 18, 1930. J, 5, GREENE 1,747,363

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR %ZQ;ATTORNEYS Feb. 18, 1930. 5, GREENE 1,747,363

PHOTOGRAPHIC' PRINT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28. 1927 e Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVEN OR (1570151 reene hwww [z:s ATTORNEY a Y Patented Feb. 18, 1930 FUNITED STATES PATENT orrica JOHN B. GEEENEQF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PEOTOSTAT COBIE'OBATIQN, F PROVIDENCE, BHDDE ISLAND, A COBEORATION 0F BHODE ISLAND EHOTOGBAPEEC-EBINT-TREATING AYEABATUS Application and. December as, last. semi we. 243,131.

My present invention relates to photography, and more particularly to print treating apparatus of a kind applicable to commercial copying cameras in which a continuous rolled strip of sensitive paper or film is fed into the focal plane of the camera, exposed as to certain of its area, fed out into a developing apparatus, the exposed area severed and the separate prints thus produced carried through various developing, washing invention relates to certain improvements whereby the action of the print conveyer is correlated with the feeding from the exposing apparatus of prints of different lengths and areas. The improvements are directed in part toward the provision of an adj ustable'depository into which the prints are fed from the exposing apparatus, and from which they are picked up by the conveying mechanism of the developing part of the apparatus.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the copying camera constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of a fragment of the camera as shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of a fragment of the forward portion of the camera as viewed from the opposite side;

Figure 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the developing apparatus;

Figure 5 is a transverse section looking forwardly taken on theline 55 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the print receiving chute taken in a longitudinal plane with the parts in one position of adjustment;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 with thed parts in another position of adjustment, an

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section through the chute adjusting mechanism taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

T he general construction and mode of operation of a machine of the character herein set forth is described in detail in my said copending application wherein it is broadly claimed, and hence no specific description is re uired here.

eferring more particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4, 1 indicates an open frame or'table at the front of which is supported a vertically adj ustablc copy support 2. Above this copy support and centered with relation thereto is a lens and prism 3 carried by the front 4 fixed to the support. The front is connected by a bellows 5 to a camera body indicated generally at 6. This camera body contains a film roll indicated by a dotted line at 7, the continuous strip of film or paper from which is fed into the focal nlane as indicated at 8 by feed rolls 9, operated by a crank 10. The lens and prism 3 project the image of the object on the copy board 2 on to the area of film or paper disposed in the focal plane 8. As the exposed area of film is fed past and through the feed rollers9 it passes into a chute section 11 which is rigidly attached to the camera body. In so doing it passes between knife elements 12 operated by a crank 13 by means of which the exposed areas are severed and become separate individual prints or sheets.

The focusing of the lens 8 upon the object resting upon the copy board 2 is accomplished by moving the sensitized material and the focal plane rather than by moving the lens. For this purpose the camera body 6 is movable rearwardly and forwardly upon the table 1 by means of a rack 14 on the table (Figs. 1 and 5) and pinions 15 on ashaft 16 carried by the camera body and turned by a knob 17.

As shown in Figure 4 the camera bodv has depending therefrom and traveling therewith a casing 18 containing the developing after being disposed and cut off in the exposing apparatus. The second bath or tank 22 is the washing bath containing water into which the prints are next carried by mecham'sm about to be described, and is also arranged at a lower level to the rear of the developing bath 21. The tank or bath 23 is a fixing or hypo bath arranged at a higher level, but also rearwardly of the exposing and print depositing apparatus. last fixing bath 23 that the prints are finally dropped.

The mechanism for picking up and conveying the print through the path just outlined consists in the present instance of an endless conveyer embodying a pair of side chains 24 running over suitable sprockets 25 on shafts 26 so disposed (as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 4) as to carry the conveyer to the bottoms of tanks 21 and 22, and then over and across the final fixing tank 23 in the direction shown by the arrows. The conveyer chains are connected at intervals by cross bars 27 that have impaling pins 28 thereon, and which constitute engaging and carrying means for the successive prints.

In the present instance three of these bars are provided and arrangements are made for effecting an intermittent movement of the carrier, whereby it is halted three times during a cycle of operation, and at each halt or period of rest one of the print impaling and carrier bars 27 will be so disposed as to present and immerse the print that it is carrying in one of'the tanks or baths 21, 22 and 23.

Before describing the manner in which this intermittent driving of the carrier and conveyer is acomplished, I will describe the manner'in which the pin bar carriers 27 successively pick up the exposed prints that have been delivered into the chute 11 from the ex-.

posing apparatus. 7

Acting in conjunction with the chute portion 11 attached to the exposing mechanism is a relatively telescoping chute section 29. Its specific construction is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It has at its lower end a defiector 30 the function of which is to direct the lower or advanced edge of a print 31 occupying the chute transversely in a curve againt an abutment 32. r

This deflector is constituted in the present instance by bending or gently curving for- It is in this.

wardly the lower end of the front wall of'the telescoping chute section. Thisshould preferably be done, I have found by experiment,

at an angle of about 30 to present the print to the carrier, as hereinafter described, in the most effective manner so that it will be drawn easily and smoothly from the chute. To also assist in this object the lower end of the front rectangular transversely extending bar 30", 7

preferably made of hard rubber and carried by a supporting plate 30 on which the lower end of the chute section 29 also rests. The upper rearward corner edge 30 projects at a downward inclination to the plane of travel of the chain bars' 27 so that it just clears them.

This edge of the bar is very smooth and as sists the guiding of the paper without mar ring or marking it. However, its principal function is to catch the liquid that drops from above from the descending chain carrier 24, which liquid isnot retained thereon to streak the forward or emulsion side of the paper but immediately runs down 'to the lower corner edge 30 and drips down into the tank 21 directly above which the bar is arranged.

The abutment 32 referred to is carried by a bar 33 extending between rearward extensions 34 of the side walls of the lower telescoping portion 29 of theprint receiving chute. The chains 24 of the conveyer pass between these extensions as shown in Figure 4 in such manner that the pin bars 27 with their impaling devices 28 are adapted to intercept the end edges of the prints 31, and to impale themselves upon and pick up the print occupying the chute at the time of passage. The approach of a pin bar 27 to the lmpahng point is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The lower chute element 29 is made telescopically adjustable with respect to the upper chute element 11 attached to the exposing mechanism or camera body 6 for the following reason:

The paper feeding rolls 9 operated by the crank 10 as previously described are adapted to feed into and out ofthefocalplane different.

lengths of film. For instance, assuming that the maximum capacity of the focal plane 8 of the camera is 18" (eighteen inches,) it is sometimes possible to photograph the entire object upon a half of this length of paper, namely, a nine inch surface. A device is provided for so regulating and limit- 1 ing the paper feed upon an actuation of the feeding means 10, which device embodies a dial 35, and a stop knob 36 having an indicator 37 thereon cooperating with the dial,

which latter is divided off into numbers indicating different film lengths, as shown in Figure 2. Were the chute portions 11 and 29 aranged. for the reception only of the maximum 18" (eighteen inch) sheet referred to, difficulty would be had in forcibly feeding to the bottom thereof a ainst the abutment 32 by means of the reed rolls 9, the shorter or 9" (nine inch) half length. It is for this reason that the telescoping lower portion 29 of the chute is provided, and it is so arranged that it may be telcscoped u on the fixed portion 11 as shown in Figure to receive the shorter prints, and to have them picked up at an early point in the travel of the pin bar 27 or lengthened out as in Figure 6 to accommodate the longer prints which are picked u at a later point in the travel of the pin bar 2 This regulatory or adjusting movement of the chute is conducted along the path of travel of the conveyer chains 24 as they pass in a downward direction arallel with the chute and toward the first ath or developing tank 21. A

The means for changing and regulating the position of the lower portion 29 of the chute is as follows:

The said chute section 29 is attached at opposite sides to anendless chain 38. These chains pass over sprockets 39 on studs 40 at a lower point, and over sprockets 41 on a shaft 42 at an upper point. Thus, by rotate ing the shaft 42 the lowerchute section 29 may be raised or-lowered upon the fixed chute section 11. The shaft 42 (Figure 8) has lixed thereto agear 43 meshing with a gear 44 onthe stop dial indicator 44. It also passes through an escutcheon plate 45 fixed to the casing of the camera body 6.. This excutheon plate 45 is provided with ratchet teeth 46 with which cooperate similar teeth on a knob 47 splined to the shaft 42 at 48. The two said sets of teeth are normally held in engagement to lock the shaft 42 in any position of adjustment by a spring 49 surrounding the shaft and occupying a cavity 50 in the knob 47. In other words, by drawing out the knob 47 against the tension of the spring, and disengaging the teeth 46, the shaft 42 may be rotated to carry the adjustable portion 29 of the chute between the position of Figure 6, and that of Figure 7. Upon the release of the knob the spring 49 carries the teeth 46 back into engagement and locks the chute in the adjusted position.

Inasmuch as the invention claimed herein relates to the adjustability of the chute in combination with the variable feed of the paper from the exposing mechanism, it is immaterial in what manner the conveyer and pin bar carrier 27 manipulates the print after picking it up at the mouth or delivery end of the chute. However, in order to complete a description of the general disclosure which is more particularly described in my said condin a plication it may be stated that f ter or ie 0 f the pin bars 27 has impaled and picked u a print from the chute at the point indicate generally at A, it carries it downwardly into the bath 21, at which point the pin bar halts at the position indicated at B, holding its print submerged in the bath. Upon the next actuation of the machine, the said pin bar travels from this developing bath over into the washing bath 22, wherein it halts again at the point indicated generally at C, holding its print submerged in the water. Upon the next actuation, the pin bar travels upwardly and thence horizontally forwardly over the fixing bath 23 in which it trails the print, finally stopping at the point indicated by the letter D. This completes the cycle and at this point D the print is stripped 011' in a manner described in my said companion application through the operation of swinging, immersing and stripping devices 51 and 52.

The driving mechanism for the conveyer operates through one of the sprocket shafts 26 indicated at 26 in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists of a motor 53 (Fig. 3) driving the said shaft 26 through suitable gearing contained in the casing 54. This mechanism embodies a plunger 55, and is of such character that upon a depression of this plunger, the motor 53 will be clutched into driving connection with the shaft 26*.

The actuation of the mechanism 54 through plunger 55 to consummate one of these periodic movements in the cycle is efiected by a lever arm 56 on a shaft 57 that passes transversely through the casing 18 and terminates in a hand lever 58 shown in Figure 1. The

operator positions himself upon this side of the machine where all of the operating elements herein described are located. He adjusts the dial or, rather, the dial indicator 37 by means of the knob 36, to give him the de sired feed of sensitive paper into the focal plane 8 and thence out into the chute 1129. He then operates the feed crank 10 after adjusting the knob 47 to give a correspondmg depth to the chute 1129. He then depresses the lever 58 to start the conveyer 24 and cause a pin bar carrier 27 to pick up the exposed and severed prints and carry them into the developing bath. After this these motions are repeated and so the prints are successively carried through the machine and finally deposited in the fixing bath 23.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with an exposing mechanism embodying print feeding and cut off devices, of an adjustable chute arranged to receive the prints from the feeding mechanism, and means for regulating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of tne print fed thereto. 2

2. In a photographic print treating apfrom the feeding mechanism, means for regu-= lating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of the print fed thereto, and an indicator for showing the depth of the chute.

3. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with an exposing mechanism embodying print feeding and cut off devices, of a chute into which the prints are fed, means for regulating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of the print fed thereto, and a print conveyer traversing a path parallel with the chute and provided with a print engaging means adapted to pick up a print in the chute at an early or late point in the travel of the print engaging means according to the adjustment of the chute.

4. In a photographicprinttreatingapparatus, the combination with an exposing mech- L anism embodying print feeding and cut off devices, of a chute into which the prints are fed, means for regulating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of the print fed thereto, a print conveyer traversing a path parallel with the chute and provided with a print engaging means adapted to pick up a print in the chute at an early or late point in the travel of the print engaging means accordingto the adjustment of the I chute, means for indicating the length of print fed by the feeding means and means for indicating the depth of the chute.

5. In a photographic print treating ap paratus, the combination with a bath and a print conveyer having a downward travel and adapted to carry a print into said bath, of a chute for feeding prints tothe conveyer menses print feeding devices and for the chute adustment. j

8. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with an exposing mechanism embodying print feeding and cut of? devices, of an adjustable chute arranged to receive the prints from the feeding mechanism, means for regulating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of the prints fed thereto, indicating means for the print feeding devices and for the chute adjustment, and a print carrier movable parallel with the chute and adapted to pick up a print therefrom at an early or late point according to the adjustment of the chute. 9. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with film exposing and cut ofi devices, of a chute into which severed prints are deposited said chute embodying an adjustable lower portion to regulate the depth thereof, a print carrier arranged to pick up the prints from the lower end of the adjustableportion of the chute,

and means for adjusting said portion com-- prising an endless chain by which it issupported, sprockets engaging said chain, and an operating member connected to one of the sprockets.

10. In a photographic print treating apparatus a print receiving device comprising a plurality of sections telescopicall mounted relative to each other so that the e fective length of said device may be varied to accommodate prints of different lengths.

11. In a photographic print treating apparatus, a print receiving chute comprising an upper fixed portion and a lower portion telescoping therewith so that the efiective length of said chute may be varied to accommodate prints of different sizes.

JOHN S. GREENE.

and into which they are deposited one by one, I

said chute comprising an upper fixed portion and a lower portion telescoping therewith.

6. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with a bath and a print conveyer having a downward travel and adapted to carry a print into said bath, of a chute for feeding prints to the conveyer and nto which they are deposited one by one, said chzite'comprising an upper fixed portion and a lower portion telescoping therewith, the lower chute portion being movable along the path of travel of the conveyer, and being provided with a mouth through which the conveyer travels.

7. In a photographic print treating apparatus, the combination with an exposing mechanism embodying print feeding and cut oif devices, of an adjustable chute arranged to,receive the prints from the feeding mechanism, means for regulating the depth of the chute to accord with the length of the prints fed thereto, and indicating means for the 

